At Inklings, they believe that love is in the little things. In 2009, Canadian-born designer and founder, Lindsay Henry, was printing a large job for a client when she learned that the offcuts from the printer’s press sheet were going to be thrown away. Instead of letting them go to waste, Lindsay designed little cards to be printed in the margins, and Inklings Paperie was born. Inklings premium paper goods are born out of a love for beautiful typography, thoughtful design, and a dash of whimsy. The hope is that their sustainably-produced products for children and adults alike will evoke curiosity, and bring joy and meaning to the everyday. In May of 2012, Inklings first made products available by launching their Etsy Shop. In September of 2012, they were honored to be named as finalists in the Martha Stewart American Made Awards and were also thrilled to be included in the official 2012 Emmy Awards Swag Bags! Inkling's small team consists of a group of passionate people who are committed to creating smart, beautiful products. From the quality of our materials to the care that goes into designing and packaging each and every item they make, they ensure that no detail goes unnoticed. The team believes that the world is a beautiful place and they want to keep in that way. That’s why they are committed to printing on sustainably-produced papers using low VOC soy-based ink. In short, while their paper goods come in a variety of vibrant shades, deep down they’re green to the core!

"While our paper goods come in a variety of shades, deep down they’re green to the core!"

We asked Inklings Paperie to provide a bit more insight on what makes them such a unique brand.

Q: What inspired you to start your own business?

A: I have always been a creator and an entrepreneur to the core. As a youngster, I was always setting up lemonade stands and designing things. I love the process of taking something that’s just a seedling of an idea and developing it to a full-fledged product, and then seeing it enjoyed by others. After spending ten years as a designer for other people’s brands, crafting a brand of my own from scratch has been incredibly rewarding.

Q: Where do you get your inspiration from?

A: I find that my children are an incredible source of inspiration. I love their humour, and their joy and love of life. I will not create a product that our family does not love, or does not have a use for. Some ideas take several months to percolate and come to fruition. Others come to me in the late night hours after my kids are tucked in bed, and are fully fleshed out and printer-ready by the time I finally give in to sleep.

Q: Which products are you most proud of?

A: A mother wrote us to say that her 7-year-old son thinks that the Scratch-off Lunchbox Notes she writes for him are magic. I love the idea that someone’s day might be made a little brighter through our paper goodies. We want to make it easy for people to show and share love, and I’m proud of products like our Lunchbox Notes that accomplish that.

Q: What product in your line has the best story?

A: Our QuoteKeeper System has the most meaning to me on a personal level as it’s an effortless way to record the cute and crazy things that my kiddos say. I came to realize that I was posting all of these great moments and funny little stories of our daily life on Facebook… but wasn’t recording them anywhere for my own little ones enjoy years down the road. I now have a huge ring of cards hanging on my fridge so I can jot things down in the moment. It contains my son’s first words and other little recorded milestones, and all of the sweet (and evil) things that my kids have uttered. I am certain that without it, they would be forgotten despite my best intentions.

Q: What do you look for when you start to develop a new product?

A: I look for a need. What I do love is dreaming up a fresh take on something, and seeing an opportunity to create something entirely new that adds meaning or answers a question.

Inklings supports Ebenezer Glenn Orphanage (EGO) in Haiti, where the 2010 7.0 magnitude earthquake left the country in devastation and thousands of children orphaned in what was already the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. At EGO, children's physical, educational, and emotional needs are provided for, and teens are taught valuable vocational skills that will help them in life.